“David Bowie was one of the band’s earliest supporters and champions,” the group said. He not only created the world that made it possible for our band to exist, he welcomed us into it with grace and warmth. We will take to the grave the moments we shared; talking, playing music and collaborating as some of the most profound and memorable moments of our lives. A true artist even in his passing, the world is more bright and mysterious because of him, and we will continue to shout prayers into the atmosphere he created.”

Bowie proclaimed himself an Arcade Fire fan early on. In a 2005 profile of the then-burgeoning Montreal band, Bowie raved to Rolling Stone, “There’s a certain uninhibited passion in the Arcade Fire’s huge, dense recording sound. They meld everything from early Motown, French chanson and Talking Heads through to the Cure in a kaleidoscopic dizzy sort of rush. I bought a huge stack of the Funeral CD last September and gave them to all my friends. I made so many converts.”

Bowie and Arcade Fire would collaborate on several occasions, releasing a live EP in 2005 that featured performances of the former’s “Five Years” and the latter’s “Wake Up.” In 2013, Bowie lent backing vocals to Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor,” off their album of the same name.

Bowie died Sunday after an 18-month battle with cancer, which he largely kept under wraps as he continued to work on various projects, including a new album and a musical stage production, Lazarus. The ever-prolific musician released his final album, ★ (pronounced “Blackstar”), on January 8th, his 69th birthday.